Today, Brazil’s national team will face Japan in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ahead of the match, FIFA journalists recalled the Brazilian player widely regarded as the godfather of Japanese football.
During the 1990s, the legendary Zico played a pivotal role in shaping football in Japan, both on and off the pitch. However, when looking at the current Japanese squad, a strong European influence is evident. Out of the 26 players selected, 22 represent European clubs.
“Japan is now at a much more competitive level. Like Brazilian or other South American players, Japanese footballers are moving to Europe in large numbers. Today, most of them compete in top leagues and hold key roles—they truly play at a high level. Of course, I will be supporting Brazil because I am Brazilian! But if Japan wins, well, I’ll have to accept it. What I am absolutely certain of is that we are in for a great match because this Japanese team really knows how to play football,” Zico said.
The Round of 16 match between Brazil and Japan is set to kick off at 17:00 UTC.
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